Manhattan’s 234-year-old farmhouse is now surrounded by apartments

Surrounded by towering apartments in bustling Manhattan, a 234-year-old Dutch-style farmhouse has gone under the radar of tourists and residents alike .

The Dyckman Farmhouse is the oldest and only farmhouse in New York City. Located at the corner of Broadway and 204th Street in what’s known today as the Inwood neighborhood, the two-story Dutch Colonial Farmhouse was built on rural land in 1784.

Today, the farmhouse is a museum filled with artifacts and Dyckman family treasures that have been preserved for decades.

Surrounded by towering apartments in bustling Manhattan, a 234-year-old Dutch-style farmhouse has gone under the radar of tourist and residents alike in the Big Apple

 The Dyckman Farmhouse is the oldest and only farmhouse in New York City. It's pictured above circled in red as dozens of apartment buildings surround the property

 The Dyckman Farmhouse is the oldest and only farmhouse in New York City. It’s pictured above circled in red as dozens of apartment buildings surround the property

The Dyckman family came to America from the Netherlands in the 1600s,’ Meredith Horsford, the Executive Director of The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum told DailyMail.com.

‘They were in what’s now called Harlem, but then built their first home just northeast of where the current farmhouse is located. 

‘But the family fled the home when the Revolutionary War broke out and when they returned, the house was destroyed along with their orchards.

‘So William Dyckman decided to rebuild in the location where the home is now on Broadway and the family lived in that farmhouse until the mid-1800s.’

The Dyckmans had cherry, apple and pear orchards growing on the property among other fruits and vegetables. They also helped to establish a library and school in the area. But in 1868, the farmhouse was sold and served as a rental property for decades.

Located at the corner of Broadway and 204th Street in what’s known today as the Inwood neighborhood in the uppermost part of Manhattan. The residence is pictured above in 2010 

Located at the corner of Broadway and 204th Street in what’s known today as the Inwood neighborhood in the uppermost part of Manhattan. The residence is pictured above in 2010 

The two-story Dutch Colonial Farmhouse was built on rural land in 1784 by the Dyckman family. It is pictured above in 1916

The two-story Dutch Colonial Farmhouse was built on rural land in 1784 by the Dyckman family. It is pictured above in 1916

‘The Dyckman family came to America from the Netherlands in the 1600s and originally settled in what’s now-called Harlem where they built their first house. Jan Dyckman first came to that area around 1661,’ Meredith Horsford, the Executive Director of The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum told DailyMail.com. Pictured above is the home in 1916

‘The Dyckman family came to America from the Netherlands in the 1600s and originally settled in what’s now-called Harlem where they built their first house. Jan Dyckman first came to that area around 1661,’ Meredith Horsford, the Executive Director of The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum told DailyMail.com. Pictured above is the home in 1916

The farmhouse was out of the family’s hands until 1915 when two Dyckman descendants, sisters Fannie Fredericka Dyckman Welch and Mary Alice Dyckman Dean, bought the property and completely restored it.

The pair turned it into a museum showcasing their family’s rich history before turning the property over to the city of New York in 1916. 

The farmhouse is made from a combination of brick, fieldstone and white painted wood. The gambrel style roof along with the porches on either side of the residence are classic Dutch features. 

Inside the home are two parlors: one is full of personal archives from the family and the other operates like a front desk area for the museum.

Letters, newspapers and more can be found on top of the desk that’s inside the parlor that’s on display. 

‘The farmhouse was built on original Manhattan bedrock. You can see that inside their winter kitchen, which is located in what we call the basement today,’ Horsford said.  

Sisters Fannie Fredericka Dyckman Welch and Mary Alice Dyckman Dean are pictured above in 1895

The sisters are pictured above in the 1900s

Pictured above are Dyckman family descendants, sisters Fannie Fredericka Dyckman Welch and Mary Alice Dyckman Dean (pictured left in 1895 and right in the 1900s)

Horsford said the Dyckman family was forced to flee their home in the Harlem area because the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. When the family returned, their home was destroyed and the orchards were in ruins. Pictured above is a former bedroom inside the Dyckman farmhouse in 1916 in Inwood. It is no longer on view to the public and now serves as a staff office

Horsford said the Dyckman family was forced to flee their home in the Harlem area because the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. When the family returned, their home was destroyed and the orchards were in ruins. Pictured above is a former bedroom inside the Dyckman farmhouse in 1916 in Inwood. It is no longer on view to the public and now serves as a staff office

'So William Dyckman decided to rebuild in the location where the home is now in Inwood instead of Harlem. The Dyckman family lived in that farmhouse until the mid-1800s,’ Horsford told DailyMail.com. Pictured above is the Winter Kitchen in 1916, that's located in what's considered the basement today

‘So William Dyckman decided to rebuild in the location where the home is now in Inwood instead of Harlem. The Dyckman family lived in that farmhouse until the mid-1800s,’ Horsford told DailyMail.com. Pictured above is the Winter Kitchen in 1916, that’s located in what’s considered the basement today

The Dyckman family also helped to establish a library and school in the area near their farmhouse, since at the time they owned 234 acres of land. Pictured above is a Parlor room inside the home in 1916

The Dyckman family also helped to establish a library and school in the area near their farmhouse, since at the time they owned 234 acres of land. Pictured above is a Parlor room inside the home in 1916

The family had planted cherry, apple and pear orchards on the property among other fruits and vegetables. But in 1868, they sold the farmhouse and dozens of acres of property. The Dyckman farmhouse is pictured above in 1885 showing Broadway before the street was lowered 10 to 15 feet

The family had planted cherry, apple and pear orchards on the property among other fruits and vegetables. But in 1868, they sold the farmhouse and dozens of acres of property. The Dyckman farmhouse is pictured above in 1885 showing Broadway before the street was lowered 10 to 15 feet

In 1915, sister Fannie and Mary bought the property and completely restored it to create a museum. The Dutch-style farmhouse is pictured above in 1924

In 1915, sister Fannie and Mary bought the property and completely restored it to create a museum. The Dutch-style farmhouse is pictured above in 1924

The sisters then transferred ownership of the farmhouse and the one-acre of property it sits upon to the city of New York in 1916, who still operates the property as a museum today. Pictured above is the farmhouse in 1935 among a developing Manhattan 

The sisters then transferred ownership of the farmhouse and the one-acre of property it sits upon to the city of New York in 1916, who still operates the property as a museum today. Pictured above is the farmhouse in 1935 among a developing Manhattan 

Dozens of Dyckman family artifacts and treasures can be found on display inside glass casing in what's called the Relic Room of the home (pictured above in 1916)

Dozens of Dyckman family artifacts and treasures can be found on display inside glass casing in what’s called the Relic Room of the home (pictured above in 1916)

The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Visitors are asked to pay what they can for admission. 

Besides touring the farmhouse, the museum hosts several events for community members and visitors. 

‘Throughout the year we host public programming for the community – we do history lectures, bilingual read alouds and a summer camp for children where we talk about what it’s like to live on a farm,’ Horsford said. 

‘It’s a great opportunity to teach kids where their food comes from. We work with local artists and display their art inside the house. It’s kind of cool to have contemporary art among historical furnishings. We also do kids art workshops and conduct a math workshop in the summer.’ 

 The farmhouse is made from a combination of brick, fieldstone and white painted wood. The building is pictured above in 2017

 The farmhouse is made from a combination of brick, fieldstone and white painted wood. The building is pictured above in 2017

The gambrel styled roof along with the porches on either side of the residence are classic Dutch features. It's pictured above in 2013

The gambrel styled roof along with the porches on either side of the residence are classic Dutch features. It’s pictured above in 2013

Several different types of trees can also be found around the home. There is also a garden on the property as well. The rear-side of the farmhouse is pictured above in 2011

Several different types of trees can also be found around the home. There is also a garden on the property as well. The rear-side of the farmhouse is pictured above in 2011

Inside the home are two parlors: one operates like a front desk area for the museum and the other (pictured above) is full of personal archives from the family

Inside the home are two parlors: one operates like a front desk area for the museum and the other (pictured above) is full of personal archives from the family

Old letters, writing pens and other artifacts can be found delicately placed on the desk inside the parlor 

Old letters, writing pens and other artifacts can be found delicately placed on the desk inside the parlor 

The spacious first floor hallway inside the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is pictured above in 2009

The spacious first floor hallway inside the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is pictured above in 2009

The southeast bedroom on the second floor inside the home is pictured in 2008. Horsford said some of the furniture inside the home are original pieces

The southeast bedroom on the second floor inside the home is pictured in 2008. Horsford said some of the furniture inside the home are original pieces

The Winter Kitchen inside the home also features old Dyckman relics and treasures kept for decades by the family

The Winter Kitchen inside the home also features old Dyckman relics and treasures kept for decades by the family

Located inside what's called the basement today, hundreds of meals were cooked by the family inside the Winter Kitchen (pictured above in 2007)

Located inside what’s called the basement today, hundreds of meals were cooked by the family inside the Winter Kitchen (pictured above in 2007)

The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Visitors are asked to pay what they can for admission

The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Visitors are asked to pay what they can for admission

The Dyckman Farmhouse is located in the uppermost point of Manhattan at 4881 Broadway Street

The Dyckman Farmhouse is located in the uppermost point of Manhattan at 4881 Broadway Street



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